Carton-sealing machine.



E. DOUQLASS. CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APrudAlou man' what. |916.

Patented Nov. 5. 1918.-

ERNEST DOUGLASS, OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA.

CARTON-SEALING MACHINE.

Specicaton o Lettersatent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that l, ERNEST DoUoLAss, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Pomona, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Carton-Sealing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

M v invention relates to the use of cartons which are used extensively for packing calmed goods, fruits, and other merchandise. These cartons are made up of coarse pasteboard, or similar material, and are shipped to the packer in a flat or knoekeddown condition, a large number of the cartons being thus packed in a small space so that they can be easily and cheaply lmndled. ll'hen the carton is to be packed it opened into its squared position, and the tlaps on one end are folded over and sealed with a suitable adhesive. 'The merchandise then packed inside the carton. The iiaps on the other'end are then folded over and sealed, and the package is ready for shipment.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a very cheap device which can be used to easily and quickly seal the ends of such cartons.

In the drawings, which are :for illustrative purposes only:

Figure 1 is a Side elevation oi my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the toggle. and operating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of my invention.

Fig. l is a side view partly in 'section illustrating the gage bar lock.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings. 11 is a column which is secured to base members 12 by means of a cross tie 13 and by means of inner braces 1l and outer braces 15. Pivoted on the inner base members 1'2 by means of hinges 16 are two standards 17 and 18these standards each carrying a member 1 9 over which a socket 20 lits, this socket being secured on the member 19 by a set screw, or other suitable means. A head, or plate, 21 of suilicient size to lit loosely inside the end of the cartons is secured to the socket 20. various sizes of plates being provided to suit the various sizes of cartons used. Badius bars Q3 are secured to the column 11. projecting out on either side thereof and having.r a small piece of metal secured therein, this metal forming an inner stop, the

`toggle levers 41,

radius bars being turned `up at their outer end to form outer stops. Stirrups 24 are secured to the standardsli and 18, these stirrups surrounding the radius bars 23, sliding freely thereon, and serving to limit the movement of the standards by striking against the stops on the radius bars. Stop blocks 25 are secured on either side et the eolmun 11, these stops also assisting io limiting the movement of the standards il and 1S( (lage bars :2G are slidably mounted on the standards 1T and Pivoted to the top of each gage bar is a catch 27, these catches engaging notches :2S cut in the A"taml-.irds 1T and 1S, the catches 2T being normally held in the notches 28 by sliirings A head bar 31 is secured' to the top of the column 11, and head bar braces 32 tend to brace the head bar 31 to the column 11. Holes 33 are cut in either end of the head bar 31, and plungers 34 and 35 slide freely therein, the plungers 31 and consisting of a round rod. Secured by means of cotter pins 3G on the upper end of the plnngers 3l and 35' are washers 37. Compression lifting springs 38 are placed about the plunger-s 31 and 35, pressing against the head. bar 31 and against the underside oli the 'washers 37. These springs tend to litt the plnngers into their raised position, as shoun at, in Fig. l. livoted on pins l() which pass through the braces 3i' are toggle levers 41, these toggle levers being forked as shown in Fig. Q, and extending down on either side of the plungers. A toggle. stop pin 4.3 is secured in each of the and a handle lever 4A is formed on the upper end thereof. Toggle links 45 are pivotcd on short rivets 46 secured in the toggle levers 41, the lower end of the links 45 being pivoted on pins 47 which are secured in and which pass entirely through plnngers 34 and 35. The lower end of each of the plungers 34 and 35 has a head 48 formed thereon, this head sliding freely in a -cavity 119 formed in clamping plates 50, these clamping plates therefore having a limited up and down movementwith relation to' the respective plungers 34 and 35. Washers 51 are secured b v means of Cotter pins 52 on the lower end of tht-, lungers 34 and 35 above the clamping plates 50, and compression 53 are placed between the washers 5l and the` upper end of the clamping plates these compression springs tending to hold the clamping plates in their lower position with relation to the plungers 34 and 35.

The method of o eration is as follows The operator pul s the standard 18 out to the position shown in the drawings, and places the carton 22 over the plate 21, folding the flaps of the carton 22 down in place and applyin a suitable adhesive thereto. The standar 18 is then thrown into a vertical position, and the clamping plate 50 is forced down against the top of the carton by means of the handle 44, this handle 4 4 rotating the toggle lever 41 through a little over ninety degress into the position shown at A in Fig. 1, in which position the pins 40, the rivets 1G, and the pins 47, are practically in a straight line, forming a toggle, so that the clamping plate 50 is securely locked in place. The spring 53 provides an elastic adjustment for the clamping plate 50, so that different thicknesses of cartons may be used, without in any way interfering with the efficiencyY of the apparatus, and the method of securingr the plate 50 to the lower end of the plungers allows this plate to adjust itself in a suitable plane to suit variations in the thickness of the carton ends.

In practice four or more standards, similar to 418, are used, the operator placing the carton on one of these standards, applying theadhesive thereto, and forcing the plate down to clamp the end of the carton, this carton being left while other cartons are being placed on the remaining heads. By the time all the heads are filled, the first carton will be dry and the operator lifts up on the handle 44, breaking the toggle, and allows the spring 38 to force the plunger up to its upper position, thereby relieving the clamping pressure between the plate 50 and the head 21, and allowin the standard 18 to fall out into its origina position against the outer stop 27, in which position thecarton can be readily removed, the remaining cartons being removed in order in the same way. After the cartons are removed, they are filled with Whatever merchandise they Vare to contain, the top flaps are sealed over with a suitable adhesive, and the carton is turned up side down so that the weight of the contents will seal the other end.

I claim as my invention In a carton sealing machine, a fixed column; a transverse head bar carried by the column; inclined braces extended between the head bar and the column; a standard hinged for swinging movement toward and away from the column; a first plate on the upper end of the standard; a plunger slidable in the head bar; a second plate coperating with the first plate; means for securing the second plate to the lunger for lim ited movement longitudinally7 of the plunger; aspring carried by the plunger and cooperating with the second plate to limit the backward movement thereof under the ressure; a lever including a handle, and bifurcations spanning the plunger` the bifurcations being pivoted to the braces; links having their upper ends located between the bi furcations, the upper ends of the links being pivoted to the bifurcations, and the lower ends of the links being pivoted to the plunger; a pin extended between the bifrcations and engaging the outer edges of the links when the handle is swung downwardly; an abutment on the upper end of the plunger; and a compression spring about the plunger aiidengaged at its ends with the abutment; and with the head bar, said spring serving to lift the plunger until the second plate is spaced vertically from the inner edge of the first plate when the stand-- ard is swung inwardly and outwardly, thereby to prevent contact between a carton on the first plate and the under surface. of the second plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 4at Los Angeles, (lalifornia, 'th' 21st day Vof January, 1916.

ERNEST DOUGLASS. 

